New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-01-09
DREAM FULFILLING ITSELF.

4 DREAM FULFILLING ITSELF.
story comes from Pittsburg of young
woman who had a dream, some weeks ago. IN
which she saw herself in coffin. The dream
made strong impression upon her. creating
depresson which she could not shake of, and
about week ago she was taken with fever
typhoid most probably and quickly died.
This is case which some may regard as REIN
forcing the theory Of supernatural warnings"
Those who think in this way will hold that the
Young woman was shown in dream what was
to take place. But apart from the difficulty OF
demonstrating any adequate motive for 80
alarming, disturbing and practically futile
notification from another world, there exists
simple. natural and sufficient explanation OF
the circumstance, and if such an explanation
really accounts for the facts it is clearly to be
accented before postulating more reconcile
and less plausible Interpretation. The simple
and natural theory is that the dream was not
less fortuitous than dreams usually are, but
that the dreamer brooded upon it until she
literally and exactly frightened herself to
death.
The possibility of so fatal reaction of the
imagination upon the vital processes Is no
doubt the point at which such as prefer the
occult hypothesis will make their first stand.
They will dispute the feasibility of the alleged
effect. But fortunately there is plenty OF
precedent for just such action OF the mind upon
the body. Among. certain simple Melanesian
tribes the curious custom called spraying to
death still exists. A man who has feud
publicly announces his intention to pray
certain enemy to death. In these cases tho
victim as rule makes no resistance, but qri etly
arran ges his affairs, withdraws to his hut, lies
down. and in q few hours, and without mani
Testing any sign of illness, dies, purely and
wholly of his own Imagination. The belief oil
these islanders in the ability Of their enemies
to pray them to death realizes the homicidal
faculty, almost precisely rs the belief "f the
Pttsburg girl that she was doomed wrought
the fulflment of the dream. :, 1t is only OF late
that the extent and influence of dominant ideas
upon the physical condition have come to be
perceived by Western science, though that OF
the Orient has recognized the truth for ages.
A Large proportion OF the mysterious cases
which have been thrown out of court by
Western scientific men because they trans
cended known laws would have been In
strumental in broadening and extending
knowledge nau tncJ Decu uhcStco ~ h'"' va
the supernatural glamor which caused them to
be suspected.
1t is curious that while isolated facts ten ding
in this one direction have been repeatedly
admitted and acted upon, the significance OF
their cumulative effect should have been 80
slowly perceived. Thus the physical effects of
fear in times of epidemic diseases have been
often observed and correctly diagnosed, yet
without suggesting the natural conclusion that
the mind is capable of controlling the body
under any circumstances. The objective results
of subjective processes ought to have raised
some pregnant questions. The transcenaental
hypothesis that mind is the only real existence
seems far less misty and paradoXical wnen
regarded in the light of the actual physical
effects of dominant ideas. Thought which can
move matter, which can set up new 3ollocations
of molecules which can arrest even the vital
functions which can mould bodily conditions
INTO the likeness OF that which il has conceived
or imagined, can hardly be considered mere
mode of motion; certainly cannot be 40 con-
sideJed with any consistency. Psychology has
much to learn yet, and it is in this line of
investigation that perhaps the most important
advances will be made. The study OF the
influence OF mind upon body, moreover, when
candidly pursued. cannot but weaken the pre-
tensions which materialism has put forward to
exolain the universe without invokin: the aid
of any thing incapable of being subjected 20 the
tests OF the laboratory.